Little is known about the Austro-Hungarian airfield in Andrychów, yet despite its field character, it was not the result of improvisation but rather of a carefully thought-out logistical plan that took into account the technological capabilities and wartime situation of the period. Much evidence suggests that an auxiliary landing strip was set up near Andrychów on the air route from the Kraków Fortress to Vienna, capable of accommodating at least one aviation company. It should be noted that each Austro-Hungarian aviation company had an establishment strength of 179 personnel, including a commandant, a chief pilot (officer), 7 non-commissioned officer pilots, 8 observer officers, 1 technical officer, and 163 support personnel — non-commissioned officers and soldiers. It had at its disposal 6–8 aircraft, and additionally kept in stock 4 reserve engines, 5 tent hangars, 6 sets of airframe spare parts, 10 sets of engine spare parts, sets of maintenance and adjustment materials and equipment for airframes, a refueling equipment set, and sets of photographic, lighting, and telephone materials and equipment. Each aviation company departing for the front carried an 8-day supply of fuel: including 35 barrels of light (aviation) gasoline and 10 barrels of heavy gasoline — for automobiles. All these assets needed to be deployed in the form of an airfield — wherever a large, firm, uniform field measuring approximately 200 x 400 meters could be found, situated in the bed of prevailing local winds; near roads, water, accommodation for personnel, and stables for horses.
Based on modest archival data, it was determined that in December 1914, Flik 10, known as the “First Styrian Aviation Unit,” was stationed at this airfield, among others. It had been formed on the basis of Flugpark 3 from Görz, at the Graz–Thalerhof airfield, along with Flik 8. The presence of these Austro-Hungarian aviation units there coincided with a Russian offensive in the Carpathian region (which began on November 28, 1914), directed mainly against the IX Corps of the Austrian 3rd Army. It quickly became apparent that the main center of gravity of the fighting at that time lay further to the north, before Kraków, and its approaches were defended by the Austrian 4th Army, which was, however, exposed to strong attacks from the Russian 3rd Army and subsequently the 8th Army. A potential defeat and loss of Kraków would have posed a mortal threat to industrialized and coal-rich Silesia, the potential loss of which would have seriously weakened both Germany and Austria-Hungary. It was also at this time that at least the two aforementioned aviation companies found themselves at the field airstrip in Andrychów, though very little is known about their activities. It was established that during this period, Flik 8 lost two machines — on December 1, 1914, an accident occurred involving the Aviatik B.II aircraft “AvN 19,” with the personal name “Rosa,” crewed by Fw. field pilot Robert Meltsch and observer Lt. Krisc, and three days later, another aircraft of the same type — “Av 18” — also suffered an accident. Its crew, consisting of Fp. Oblt. Holeka and observer Oblt. Bruno Bechine Freiherr von Lazan, escaped without serious injuries. At the end of December, Flik 8 was transferred to the Rakowice airfield, from where its aviators undertook further reconnaissance flights, bombing missions, and other operations. The company then moved to the field airstrip in Bochnia, Brzesko, and at the beginning of January 1915, to the launch field in the bend of the Uszwica River at Okocim.
The further history of the Andrychów launch field is unknown, although much evidence suggests that it was still being used by Austro-Hungarian aviation as late as 1918.
